Second Chances

May 22, 2011 at 4:40 PM

After getting a small case of the "shakes" in last week's recital, my ensemble got a second chance to play "Reflection" at the early service at church.

It was not a perfect performance. Slow pieces like this are incredibly difficult. Small intonation and shifting errors are exposed, maintaining a good tone over long slow bows is a challenge and synchronizing each change in note is essential. Add to it the pressure of performing and tension compromises the control. The difference can be amazing. Here is our warm-up less than a half an hour before:

Mistakes and all however, I was glad to play this piece with my friends again and am happy with how it turned out (with no shakes!). It has become a favorite of mine that I hope to play again someday.